Internal-combustion engine.



J. J. TRACY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. I914.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

HEM/E6656 JAMES J. TRACY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11a, 1911 7.

Application filed July 28, 1914. Serial No. 853,655.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. TRAoY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and

State of Ohio, have invented anew and' useful Improvement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, soas to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines. Its general objects are to prevent the burnt gas in the cylinder from causing an ignition terminal to prematurely explode a fresh gaseous mixture entering the cylinder, and to prevent communication of a fresh mixture entering the cylinder with a heated ignition terminal. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a broken sectional View of an engine embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view illustrating a detailed modification.

Fig. 1 illustrates an internal combustion engine cylinder 1 of the T-head type, provided with the usual water-jacket 2. The

cylinder is provided with an inlet port 3 which communicates with a carburetor through a pipe 4. The inlet port is controlled by a reciprocating valve 5 normally.

held in closed position by a spring 6 and openable periodically by the usual cam mechanism. Diametrically opposite the inlet port 3 the cylinder is provided with an exhaust port 7 communicating with an exhaust pipe 8, .and the exhaust port is controlled by a reciprocating valve 9 normally held in closed position by a spring 10 and openable periodically by the usual cam mechanism.

The illustrated cylinder is of the dual ignition type. A spark plug 11 is mounted with its terminal 12 positioned above the exhaust valve 9, and the terminal is surrounded by a depending flange 13 which is conveniently formed on the bushing 1 1 which is secured in the head of the cylinder and supports the spark plug. A similar spark plug 15 is mounted in a bushing 18 with its terminal 16 positioned over the inlet valve 5, and this terminal is surrounded by a depending flange 17.

In operation, at the conclusion of a power stroke of the piston, the cylinder is filled with hot burnt gases, the inlet valve is closed, and the exhaust valve is just opening. When the exhaust valve reaches its fully open position it nearly contacts with the flange 13 surrounding the ignition terminal 12, and thus closes that terminal from the cylinder. As the piston makes its exhaust stroke the hot burnt gases are driven through the exhaust port and they are prevented from coming into communication with the ignition terminal 12.. Consequently the liability of the terminal to become incandescent through association with the hot burnt gases, especially after the terminal has become somewhat oxidized, is positively prevented, so that when the succeeding charge of fresh mixture enters the cylinder it will not be fired by the terminal 12 which will then be exposed because the exhaust valve will have been closed. In the T-head cylinder illustrated the burnt gases will flow with little interruption through the exhaust port 7 during the exhaust stroke of the piston, and consequently, although the terminal 16 will be exposed during that stroke,

there will be less tendency for the burnt gases to play around thatterminal, and hence it is not so liable to become incandescent. However, the flange 17 is desirably added to this valve on the inlet side, as an additional precaution against backfiring.

As the piston begins a suction stroke the inlet valve is open and approximately contacts with the flange 17, thereby closing the terminal 16 from the cylinder. As the suction stroke proceeds, the inflowing fresh mixture is drawn down into the cylinder, and its tendency is not to flow into the space adjacent the terminal 12 until substantially the commencement of the compression stroke of the piston. Consequently the fresh mixture tends not to come into communication with the terminal 12 until that terminal has had a substantial time to cool after the last power stroke. The mixture, as it flows in quently a premature explosio-nof the mixture is prevented.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 2 the spark plug 15, having a terminal 16, is mounted in a bushing 19 which is not formed with a depending flange, but a valve 20 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 21 adapted to contact with the bushing and inclose the terminal 16 when the valve is open.

- inder, and which cylinder is equipped with Althoughthe drawing illustrates 'the invention applied to a cylinder of the T-head type, in which the inlet and exhaust ports are substantially separated, and to a cylinder provided with a dual ignition system, the invention is not limited to embodiment either in a T-head cylinder or to a cylinder provided with a dual ignition system.

In a cylinder with substantially separated inlet and exhaust ports, with a. single ignition terminal, a distinct advantage is provided for by the present invention by having an exhaust valve inclose the terminal during the exhaust stroke of the piston, or by having the inlet valve inclose the terminal during the suction stroke of the piston.

In a cylinder with substantially separated inlet and exhaust ports, and with a dual ignition system, highly advantageous results may be obtained by having the exhaust valve inclose a terminal during the exhaust stroke of the piston, or by having the inlet valve inclose a terminal during the suction stroke, in either case without having the other terminal inclosed. 1

In a cylinder of a type other than one in which the inlet. and exhaust ports are substantially separated, as they are in a T-cyla single ignition system, th invention provides for obtaining highly advantageous re- 7 sults by having either the exhaust valve or the inlet valve inclose the terminal when the valve, whichever it may be, is open.

Other modes of applying the principle of fresh mixture until it has had opmy invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with inletand exhaust ports an ignition terminal; a flange surrounding the terminal; an inlet yalve; and an exhaust valve adapted when open approximately to contact with the edge of the flange.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with substantially separated .inlet and exhaust ports; two ignition terminals; flanges surrounding the respective terminals; and an inlet valveand an exhaust valve adaptedwhen open approximately to contact with the edges of the respective flanges.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports; and ignition terminal; an inlet valve having a concave upper surface adapted when open to inclose the terminal.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports; two ignition terminals; and inlet and exhaust valves controlling said ports respectively, said exhaust valve being formed with a concave upper surface adapted when open to inclose one of said terminals.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports; two ignition terminals; and inlet and exhaust valves controlling said ports respectively, said valves havingtheir head hollowed out and being adapted when open to inclose said terminal to prevent the hot gases of combustion coming in contact with said terminal during the exhausting of said gas thereby preventing iBIOSlOIl of said terminal. a

Signed by me, this 27th day of July, 1914.

v JAMES J. TRACY. Attested by: i

MARY GLADWELL,

- JNO. F. OBERLIN. 

